Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Libya
Congress sends Riyadh 'signal' with vote to allow terror lawsuits Congress defeated President Barack Obama's effort to shield the US ally from terrorism-related lawsuits. Saudi Arabia
After Obama, what comes next for US-Tunisia ties? While the United States has a strategic interest in keeping Tunisia stable, its interest recently has been mostly lip service, and some argue things are unlikely to change after the November elections. Tunisia
Fulfilling vision of Peres requires dismantling settlements Former Israeli President Shimon Peres' Middle East peace legacy can only be realized if the settlements he himself approved many years ago are dismantled. Palestine
Sunni blocs oppose legal immunity for Popular Mobilization Units The Shiite Iraqi National Alliance is to propose legal immunity for the Popular Mobilization Units, but Sunni blocs in parliament are likely to object to the proposal. Iraq
Palestinians disavow video threatening Americans in Gaza Palestinian officials have widely denounced a Palestinian militant’s threat against US nationals in the Gaza Strip after the US government added Hamas leader Fathi Hammad to its terror list. Palestine
Why Gaza's intellectuals are fleeing abroad Lack of freedom of thought and expression is leading creative young Palestinians to flee the Gaza Strip in search of a place where they can work freely. Palestine
What is Turkey’s military strategy in Syria? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement once again revealed that Ankara's priority in Syria is not fighting against the Islamic State, but rather stopping Kurds' advances. Syria
Turkey faces decision over boots on the ground in Syria Turkish media are speculating that the Free Syrian Army militias cannot expel Islamic State from Dabik and al-Bab, so that mission will fall to Turkish infantry. Syria
Incitement, tensions rise over Syrian refugees in Lebanon Controversial statements by Lebanese authorities point to growing frustration over the presence of more than 1 million Syrian refugees in their country. Lebanon
Will next US president shift Washington's Yemen policy? To be seen as a legitimate peace broker, the United States must urge all sides in the Yemeni civil war to make necessary compromises. Saudi Arabia
Did US approach Iran about Yemen? Controversy has erupted in Iran over mysterious reports of a secret US letter to Iran on engagement to solve the crisis in Yemen. Yemen
Are Egypt's lackluster efforts leaving it isolated? Egypt seems to be ignoring chances to upgrade its social standing in the world. Egypt
